A coalition of international authorities in collaboration with local partners have called for reforms to end trafficking in Nigeria.
The call was made at a press conference organised by The Sisterhood’s Global Institute and Gloria Steinem Equality Fund to End Sex Trafficking in collaboration with Associazione Iroko in Abuja, Nigeria.
The co-organiser of the forum and Executive Director of Associazione Iroko Onlus in Nigeria and Italy, Esohe Aghatise said trafficking was a global phenomenon embedded in sexual and gender inequality and there was need for a reform.
“And the need for a change of mindset where we begin to see women not as less than human, not as second class citizens, not as disposable objects. But as human beings with a right to the same kinds of opportunities,” she said.
Reforms of Equality Laws
Mrs. Aghatise called for reform of equality laws that recognise that prostitution was not a female issue but a male issue that addresses the buyer.
Quoting the International Labour Organization, ILO, she said “every year millions of marginalised women and girls are trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation, which is a US $99 billion industry”.
The United States Ambassador, Mary Beth Leonard said her government has invested in programmes in Nigeria that sees to the basic needs and health care to survivors of sexual trafficking.
“Victims and survivors of trafficking must have the support that they need to recover. And agencies must have the necessary tools and resources to accommodate, identify and assist victims,” she said.
Swedish Ambassador to Nigeria, Annika Hahn-Englund urged the forum to work collectively to end women trafficking by proffering long term solutions to the demand that fosters the exploitation of women.
Also, the Argentine Ambassador, Alijandro Herero said sustained efforts must be made to persecute perpetrators of trafficking, identifying and rescuing of trafficked persons.
Executive Director, Coalition Against Trafficking in Women, CATW, Taina Bien-Aime who lamented the rise in trafficking said creating more awareness and getting more people involved would strengthen the fight against trafficking.
She said “Awareness and the signs of trafficking and how to identify a victim or trafficking situation would prevent it from ever happening”.
She also urged the Nigerian government to ensure that existing legal and institutional measures to protect individuals from human trafficking are adequately implemented.
The event which took place in Abuja and Edo state also had in attendance the Ambassador of Spain, Juan Sell, local and international partners in the fight against trafficking and Nollywood movie stars.
It also featured the screening of the Nigerian film Òlòturé directed by Kenneth Gyang and produced by EbonyLife Films.
Òlòturé is a nollywood film that highlights the scourge of sex trafficking in Nigeria.
Confidence Okwuchi
